Children of Trident Book 1: Broken Treaty

The Publisher's Office

Cassielle

    Cassielle quickly left the room.

    “Injuries?” she asked.

    “None. We aren’t sure what they are after as they had broken into several offices. We are investigating it now.”

    “Where is High Council?”

    “Secured in her residence,” Jacobee answered. “She is refusing to be moved to an undisclosed location. She is also requesting your presence. She believes you can be useful to the investigation.”

    Cassielle took a breath. The High Council made her orders clear when she told Cassielle to focus on her family. Now she was requesting Cassielle to leave her family and return to the High Rise. Cassielle’s loyalty to the empire had to stay higher than her loyalty to her own family.

    “Tell me your assessment of any threats posed against the estate?”

    “I believe the family will remain safe. If you would like, I could return to the estate,” Jacobee offered.

    “You have other duties to attend to. Send RuAnn.”

    Cassielle closed the communication and turned to see Kevin.

    “You leaving?” he asked.

    He coughed a few more times into his handkerchief.

    “I have to. There has been some trouble at The Kalli’s Seat and High Council has requested I personally handle it,” she said. “Are you feeling ok?”

    Kevin reached for her left hand, and she allowed him to grab it. He gently pushed back the sleeve and kissed the scars before lowering her hand back down. She smiled at his romantic gesture.

    “I’m fine. Please be safe,” he said quietly.

    A half hour later, another white shuttle descended to the landing pad the family arrived on earlier, and a tall, dark woman got off. She wore combat clothes with a black band around her right upper arm. All citizens of Trident would have the same black band to signify the death of a Kalli. Cassielle approached and the woman saluted her.

    “Jacobee said you needed me here,” she said.

    “Thank you for coming, RuAnn. High Council personally requested I assist with The Kalli’s Seat security breach. Only my son is trained in protecting others, so I need you to remain here and take charge if something happens,” Cassielle said.

    The look on RuAnn’s gave Cassielle the impression that RuAnn believed her time could have been used better doing something else. Cassielle left RuAnn and boarded the shuttle. She wished she had something to look over or read on the half hour flight to the city. Going into an investigation unprepared made her uneasy. She had no idea what to expect. The shuttle landed on top of the High Rise where Jacobee met her.

    “High Council would like to see you first,” he said as they walked towards the entrance.

    Instead of taking the elevator down, Cassielle chose the stairs. High Council’s apartment happened to be the topmost floor of the High Rise and taking the stairs took less time than waiting for an elevator. Cassielle’s own apartment took up the entire floor two floors below High Council’s. Cassielle often chose to use the stairs over the elevator if she had no other plans after arrival.

    Posted outside High Council’s residence were two of her personal guards. One saluted as the other held the door open for Cassielle. They knew she had been expected and allowed her to pass without any problems. Jacobee remained in the hall.

    The once carpeted halls had been changed to a durable wood from the Jolds system. The patterns of light and dark between the rings in the wood added a touch of elegance to the space. Due to High Council’s headache, the attendants darkened the apartment as much as possible. With or without pain, Trident still needed a ruler.

    High Council sat on a gray couch facing the entrance of the drawing room reading a tablet, sipping some tea. Four gray overstuffed couches embroidered with the great Trident Sun sat in an open square with a short table in the middle. Cassielle approached the back of one of the couches before clearing her throat.

    “Sit, High Command,” High Council said without looking up.

    Cassielle did as she was instructed. They sat in silence. She had no idea why she was here instead of looking into the security breach as requested.

    “The governors have signed a decree ordering my official resignation,” High Council said handing the tablet over to Cassielle.

    Cassielle read the document. It stated that with the current turmoil in the empire and recent attacks on the last remaining members of the Kalli family, it was in the best interest of everyone that Peddina Jonna, the current High Council, resign. Her rule would then be passed to the rightful ruler of Trident, Cassielle Kalli.

    Cassielle felt the blood drain from her face. “How was this signed so fast? We just discussed this?”

    “They had it signed before we even spoke about it. Governor Chasta thought she was doing us a favor informing us about it,” High Council explained.

    “When will this go public?”

    “The governors have agreed to wait until your family have been returned to Earth. They are hoping one or two members will remain here but will accept the decision if no one does.”

    “So, she wasn’t doing us a favor. She was trying to find out when it was the best time to release this to the citizens,” Cassielle concluded.

    “My thoughts exactly.”

    “What does this have to do with the breach in security?”

    “The publishing office was identified as one of the offices that had been ransacked. The chief editor there had been given an advanced copy with strict instructions not to release it until directed. I suspect this document may have been taken,” High Council said softly.

    “If it falls into the wrong hands, it will cause riots. We both know the people have been calling for your resignation since I came to Trident.”

    “I am aware of the situation.” High Council stopped and squeezed her eyes shut. The conversation was becoming too much for her. “That is why, tomorrow, I will address The Kalli’s Seat, and the empire, to resign. I realize this puts you in a difficult position. We will deal with the aftermath together.”

    Cassielle stood up and walked back to the entrance. “I will look for the document. Promise me, until I can discover it’s whereabouts, you don’t make that announcement,” she said.

    “I make no promises,” High Council said.

    Cassielle let out a frustrated sigh as she walked to the elevator with Jacobee. She waited until they were inside before explaining what happened. Jacobee remained silent. For as long as they had known each other, he had always been her confidante. There was not much she could not tell him.

    “This too will pass,” was all he said after a few moments.

    “It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass,” she said.

    She did not remember where she heard the phrase, but it surprised her at how accurate it was to this situation. Jacobee let out a little snort and Cassielle stifled a giggle. She thought about recent events. This latest attack seemed too coincidental to her.

    “Do you suppose it’s all related?” she asked.

    The elevator reached the bottom most stop, a tunnel connecting the High Rise and The Kalli’s Seat.

    “What do you mean?” Jacobee asked.

    “The Lillian, my family, and The Kalli’s Seat attacks.”

    Lights flickered on as they walked the corridor to The Kalli’s Seat. The walls were barren and painted a stark white color. The sounds of their footsteps echoed off the walls as they moved from one end to another.

    They passed several locked doors that led to other tunnels under The Kalli’s Seat complex. Cassielle had been in all the tunnels for various reasons over the years. The one they were using had the highest security as it linked the two buildings. High Council’s safety came above all others.

    “Not likely. I traced the attack on the Lillian to a Federation group not associated with Liana’a. As for The Kalli’s Seat attack, we still must conduct the investigation,” Jacobee said.

    “So, you discovered no connection between the two?” Cassielle asked.

    “No. The Federation has disavowed the group behind the attack on the Lillian. They stated they would have never commissioned any sort of attack that would involve civilians, especially children. As for Liana’a, they said she became rogue some years ago and had even taken to attacking their own planets,” Jacobee said. “The group responsible for the Lillian has gone to ground. I doubt the Federation will turn over anyone they are caught.”

    “It still seems like too much of a coincidence,” she said.

    They continued walking in silence. Cassielle mulled over the information Jacobee gave her. He uncovered evidence the two attacks were not connected, and she had to trust his assessment. She still wondered if he could be wrong.

    After arriving at The Kalli’s Seat tunnel entrance, they were directed to the closest office that had been broken into. This office belonged to Hulo, the chief editor of The Kalli’s Seat publishing offices. A short, portly man argued with a soldier that stood posted at the door. The green vest he wore seemed to bulge at the seams as he moved about. His bald head reflected the lights coming from the wall. Cassielle could see he carried about a dozen different tablets and documents. She recognized this man as Hulo, the chief editor.

    “I have to get to important documents that I need to meet my deadline,” Hulo contended.

    “Until further notice, no unauthorized entry,” the soldier replied.

    His tired voice sounded as if this had been repeated many times.

    Cassielle cleared her throat and both men jumped. Hulo dropped an armful of tablets and documents. The soldier quickly saluted her.

    “I’m so sorry,” Hulo said as he scrambled to pick up the fallen documents.

    “Can I help you?” she asked the editor as soon as he got back to his feet.

    “My word,” he said.

    Realizing who he stood before made him jump again causing some tablets to fall from his arms again. This time Jacobee helped him gather them. Cassielle could see him scan each of the tablets. He handed all but one back to the editor. This one he handed to Cassielle.

    “I need that,” Hulo said as he reached his hand towards it.

He stopped himself and quickly backed away. Cassielle read the tablet. Relief washed over her as she read the decree from the governors.

    “With the current security breach, I believe this would do better in the hands of the governors,” she said handing it back to Jacobee.

    “You’re not allowed. The citizens have a right to know,” Hulo stammered.

    “And they will. You will also recall it is not to be published until you are given permission,” Cassielle said.

    “That is normal procedure. Do you know how many documents I see that come with those instructions? I don’t even keep those in this office. They are usually stored in a safe room deeper in the building,” Hulo said. “I was on my way back to my office from there when we were notified of the break-ins.”

    “Even still. There is too much at stake to allow this document out. Trust me, you will have your chance to publish this news. I won’t rob you of the honor, but now is not the time to be arguing about it,” she said to the man.

    Hulo huffed.

    “Can I at least get into my office?” he asked.

    “Wait here,” she ordered.

    The soldier allowed her and Jacobee to pass. The office held several desks arranged haphazardly around the room. One desk sat in a secluded corner, while the others were more centrally located. Large windows looking out to the green space had blinds drawn against the bright, sunny day. The tile from the hall continued into the room and the walls had been painted a neutral color. Screens arranged on the walls displayed layouts of the monthly releases the publishing office made. One screen behind the corner desk had a large crack in it, causing it to flicker, half of the screen being completely black. Cassielle found it strange the publishing office would have glass screens instead of the holographic displays that were common in literally every other office in the building.

    Cassielle scanned the area for the past activity. A hologram played in front of her. As soon as the door was open, the intruders blocked the surveillance system. It was not cut as that would have set the alarms off. Hooded individuals searched the office, throwing papers and going through desks. One even got under a desk and pulled out a tablet eraser, throwing it at the glass screen when they discovered nothing on it. They searched everywhere, but they did not seem to find anything. Cassielle continued to watch them. Something caught their attention, and they ran out of the room.

    “It doesn’t seem like they found what they were looking for,” she said carefully stepping over the papers and pictures.

    Looking down at them, she could see they were of her family’s arrival. A feeling of unease washed over her.

    “What stopped them?” Jacobee asked.

    “I’m not sure,” Cassielle said looking around again. “The alarm was not triggered in here, was it?”

    “No. It was triggered in a different office.”

    Cassielle continued to scan for activity and saw a hooded figure leave from a hidden corner. He stopped at the door and turned the other direction from the original intruders. Cassielle nearly tore the door off its hinges running out of the office and gave chase to something only she could see. The hooded figure ran until it stopped and entered a door. She stood there waiting for the figure to emerge. Nothing came out. Jacobee and two soldiers caught up with her.

    “What’s behind this door?” she asked.

    “It’s a storage closet,” Jacobee said checking the panel next to the door.

    Cassielle tried the handle while Jacobee drew his weapon. The soldiers readied their weapons. She turned the handle, but it was Jacobee who went through the door. She followed and they searched shelves. Something caught her eye and she reacted quickly as a hooded person tried to run past her. He stumbled when she grabbed his shirt.

    “Hands up,” Jacobee shouted pointing his weapon at the runner.

    “Don’t shoot,” a voice called out.

    His hands went up and he stopped moving. He had been surrounded by the soldiers and Jacobee. One soldier shackled his hands behind his back pushed him to his knees. Cassielle removed the hood. Nodes looked up at her from the floor.